The Weekly Bulletin of The Optimist Club of Knoxville, Tennessee

Adrian M. Elcock- OI PresidentRobert H. Leonard - OI Past President 1967

Michael Brown - GATEway GovernorChris Cox- Lt. Governor

A Look At

"The Sunny Side" Of Everything

LAST WEEKFRIDAY 31 JAN2UARY 2020 Knox County Clerk SHERRY WITT explained Tennessee Real I.D. The REAL ID Act of 2005 establishes minimum security standards for license issuance and production and prohibits Federal agencies from accepting for certain purposes driver licenses and identification cards from states not meeting the Act’s minimum standards. Beginning this coming October 1, 2020, all persons must have a REAL ID license for accessing certain Federal buildings, entering nuclear facilities, and boarding commercial flights within the United States.

In August of 2018, SHERRY WITT became the first female elected to serve as Knox County Clerk. A native of Knoxville, SHERRY is a graduate of Fulton High School and holds a B.A. degree from the University of Tennessee. She has also earned a Certified Public Administrator designation from the University of Tennessee Center for Government Training, and is a graduate of the Local Government Leadership Program.SHERRY holds the distinguished honor of being the first female Register of Deeds for Knox County. She is a former President of the East Tennessee Register’s Association as well as the Tennessee Registers. In 2014 she was named Outstanding Register of the Year. She has served on numerous County Officials Association of Tennessee committees during her time in office.

SHERRY’S community involvement continues to be an important part of her life. She is a 25-year member of the Advisory Board of the Knoxville Boys and Girls Clubs, and she serves on the board for the Free Medical Clinic of America, as well as the Knox County Schools Career and Technical Education Partnership.

Volume 100, Number 15 "Kids grow up with or without Optimism . . . The Choice is Yours."© February 4, 2020

THIS WEEK FRIDAY 7 FEBRUARY 2020We welcome TRACY VAN de VATE from the Knoxville – Knox County Community Action Committee (CAC) Office on Aging. Grandparents as Parents Program. In our community some 3,000 children are being raised by someone other than their parents – often it is their “grand”. TRACY will discuss the resources available to families as well as some of the challenges and benefits of raising grandchildren. Often these family members are all that stands between the children and the Department of Children Services.

Invite a friend and learn what is causing this phenomenon.

NEXT WEEK FRIDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2020Sweets for the Sweetest Dessert Auction. Please invite your significant other to join you for this special program. It began as a way to raise funds to support a new initiative. To honor the memory of

Club Chartered 21 December 1920

TRACY VAN DE VATE

CAC

Officers 2019-2020President ............................................Ben GoodsonPresident-Elect .................................... Bradley PruittVice President ........................................ Deno ColeVice President ....................................Darrin RhinesSecretary ................................................. Kelly PrattTreasurer .............................................David HarterSergeant-At-Arms ........ Buzz Buswell, Chris AlbrechtPast President ...........................................Chris Cox Director ........................Helen Hewitt '20 1 Yr TermDirector ....................... Melanie Hogg '20 1 Yr TermDirector ......................... Essie Johnson '20 1 yr termDirector ........................Chris Albrecht '21 2 Yr TermDirector ...................... Vee Panagakos '21 2 Yr TermDirector ..............................Tom Zuraf '21 2 Yr Term

Henry Naff Trustees Al Stigall 2020 • John Mays 2020

Annie LaLonde 2021 • John Temple 2021Michael Cermack • 2022

COMMITTEE CHAIRS 2019-2020Adopt-a-Mile ............................................................

American Hero of the Year.. ......................................

Bulletin Editors .................... Buzz & Donna Buswell

Camp Eagle's Nest .......... Allen Collier & Dan Green

Chaplain ...................................................................

Cheese Sales ..............Gwin Harshaw & Glen Weber

Childhood Cancer ...........Chris Albrecht, Kelly Pratt,

Zack Kipp

Christmas Dinner and Haslam Center Party

for Boys & Girls Club. .................................. Lisa Huber

Community Yard Sale ....................................................

Dessert Auction ................ Jim Adcock & Brenda Staton

Dorothy Weber "YES" Award ....................Jim Adcock &

Annie LaLonde

Election ...............................................Bradley Pruitt

Essay Contest (OI) .....................................................

Finance Committee ............................ Michael Cermak

FISH ........................................................Bradley Pruitt

Football Time in TN ..................................Zach Kipp

Freaky Friday ......................................... Bud McKelvey

Induction ...........................................Dan McGehee

Interclub Visitation ................................David Harter

Johnny Mauer Day ....................................................

Lawn Mower Safety Clinic ........................................

Membership ......................................Dan McGehee

OI Foundation .....................................Essie Johnson

Oratorical Contest (OI) .............................Erin Favier

Professional Development Program .. Annie LaLonde

Photographer ....................................... Bob Freeman

Programs .................................................. Chris Coz

Public Relations

Respect For Law Day ............................... Bob Gibson

Shoney's Kidcare ID ......................... Annie LaLonde

Social ....................................................John Temple

Tri-Star Sports(OI) .....................................................

Website Administrator ..............................................

Youth Appreciation Week (OI) ............... John Meade

The Sunny Side is published weekly for the members of the Optimist Club of Knoxville. Your calls, letters and comments are welcome. Submit articles and photographs; their safe return is guaranteed: The Sunny Side • Editors Buzz & Donna Buswell 1101 Remington Road, Knoxville TN 37923 604-4443 • 603-0094 evenings & weekends Email: buzztof@comcast.net Deadline: 5:00 pm Sunday prior to publication the following Monday Photos by: Robert Freeman, Glen Weber Reporter: Brenda Staton Publisher: Donna Buswell Circulation: Distribution to each member of the Optimist Club of Knoxville by First Class Mail Monday of each week or electronically on Tuesday.

2019-20DIME A DAYCHRIS ALBRECHTBUZZ BUSWELLDONNA BUSWELLBOB FREEMANCAROLYN MONDAYBETH O'BRIENSHARON POUNDJACQUELINE ZURAFTOM ZURAF

$100.00 CLUBBOB FREEMAN

$250 PRESIDENT'S CLUB

CHRISTIAN D. LARSON PARTNERS110. BUZZ BUSWELL142. PAUL H. HARBIN167. DONNA J. BUSWELL170. BOB LEONARD197. ESSIE JOHNSON291. DAVID C. HARTER376. MIKE RAGSDALE383. HARRY D. BRYAN462. MELINDA BASLER490. WILLIAM "EARL" WHITE506. ALLEN COLLIER528. JONIDA ROBINSON558. MARIE LEONARD605. JOHN W. MONTGOMERY628. ESTEL HAMILTON704. BETH O'BRIEN710. CHRIS COX714. CINDY HAGAN

Contact ESSIE JOHNSONto make your donation for the

2018-19 year

SPONSOR A NEW OPTIMIST 2019-20AUSTIN BULLOCK sponsored DANIEL MCGEHEERAYMOND DA-BOI sponsored by JIM ADCOCK

MARY ALBRECHT sponsored by CHRSIS ALBRECHT

DOROTHY WEBER we decided to recognize unique volunteers who step up and said “YES”. Such people are vital to the success of non-profit agencies. Volunteers are nominated by the leadership of the organization to which DOROTHY gave her time, talent and treasure,

Desserts are donated by our members. Purchased or produced, these dessert delights are bid on during our meeting and the highest bidder gets to share their sweets with their sweetest. Proceeds cover the cost of the YES Awards luncheon later this year.

SO, invite a friend (and suggest they might want to bring their checkbook) share your optimism and support this project.

PLAN AHEADFRIDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2020DROCELLA MUGOREWERA, Executive Director, Bridge Refugee Services

SATURDAY 22 FEBRUARY 2020FISH Chairman BRADLEY PRUITT announced our next Opportunity for Involvement at the FISH Hospitality Food Pantry will be on Saturday 22 February 2020.

ORATORICAL CONTESTSAnnual Optimist International Oratorical Contest Chairman ERIN FAVIER will be seeking judges and timekeepers for the two school contests listed below. Judges for the club contest on March 13 may not be members of our club.

This year’s assigned topic: “Just iMagine a World without Boundaries”

Sign up this Friday.

TUESDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2020Sacred Heart Catholic School, 3:00 p.m. (actual contest begins at 4:00 p.m.)

THURSDAY 5 MARCH 2020Homeschool Students at First Cumberland Church, 4:00 p.m. (actual contest begins at 4:30 p.m.)

FRIDAY 13 MARCH 2020Annual Club Oratorical Contest at The FoundryNote: Judges may not be members of our club.

OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATIONJoin the growing list of Dime-A-Day donors. See ESSIE JOHNSON and hand her $36.50 – just a Dime-A-Day to support the work of the OIF.

FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYSGARY COX 6thHELEN HEWITT 14thBRENNAN GILLENWATER 15thBRENDA STATON 20thJOHN MEADE 27th

FEBRUARY ANNIVERSARIESERIN FAVIER 8thPENNY MITCHELL 26th

TO be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

TO talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.

TO make all your friends feel that there is something in them.

TO look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

TO think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.

TO be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

TO forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

TO wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

TO give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

TO be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

Christian D. Larson

Optimist Mission Statement

By providing hope and positive vision,

Optimists bring out the bestin youth, our communities

and ourselves.

OUR WEBSITE: www.knoxoptimist.org

FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/OptimistClubofKnoxville

PURPOSES OF OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL

• To develop optimism as a philosophy of life utiliz-ing the tenets of the Optimist Creed;

• To promote an active interest in good government and civic affairs;

• To inspire respect for the law;

• To promote patriotism and work for international accord and friendship among all people;

• To aid and encourage the development of youth, in the belief that the giving of one’s self in service to others will advance the well-being of humankind, community life and the world.

PICSDARRIN RHINES served as Chairman of the Day introducing Knox County Clerk SHERRY WITT, seen here with BRADLEY PRUITT who presided over the meeting.

JIM ADCOCK says “Sweets for the Sweetest is set for Friday February 14 – a date that is perfect for a date!” Invite your special someone to join you for lunch and participate in the Dessert Auction.

TOM ZURAF says we have nuts without peanuts and nuts with peanuts and raisins coated with chocolate (but no peanuts) and if that’s not enough, we have ALMONDS coated with DARK CHOCOLATE. No, we are not “nuts” it is a fund raiser. Get yours at the back of the meeting room Friday.

PAT LEONARD brought ERIC LUTTON to our meeting last Friday. ERIC is the Knox County Public Defender and is currently running for that office.

FISH Chairman BRADLEY PRUITT announced our next Opportunity for Involvement at the FISH Hospitality Food Pantry will be on Saturday 22 February 2020.

Happy Birthday wishes were extended to CAROLYN BLIND on the 31st - the last birthday in January! She encourages you to collect “Box Tops” and bring them to our Friday meetings. Place them in the container by the badge box and help Alternative Schools with supplies.

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